SOUTHLAND’S BEST DEFENSE

FIRST TEAM

End: Gene Brito

Loyola, 1947-50. Brito started every game for four years. A clever and dedicated player, he was named to the Independent All-Coast team in 1950.

End: Jimmy Gunn

USC, 1967-69. A member of USC’s famed “Wild Bunch,” inspired by the movie of the same name, Gunn was an All-American in 1969. He harassed opponents with his speed and quickness.

Tackle: Jesse Hibbs

USC, 1926-28. A fierce two-way player, Hibbs was an All-American in 1927 and 1928. In 1928, USC won its first national championship.

Tackle: John Ferraro

USC, 1943-44, 1946-47. Ferraro was an All-American in 1944 and 1947, and was another two-way player. He’s now president of the Los Angeles city council.

Linebacker: Jerry Robinson

UCLA, 1975-78. First Bruin to earn consensus All-American honors for three straight years. He still holds the UCLA record for career tackles with 468.

Linebacker: Richard Wood

USC, 1972-74. Another three-year All-American and the defensive leader of USC’s national championship teams in 1972 and 1974.

Linebacker: Chris Claiborne

USC, 1996-98. He was the winner of the Butkus Award in 1998, given to the nation’s top linebacker. He had 312 tackles, 27 for losses, in his three-year career.

Defensive back: Ken Easley

UCLA, 1977-80. UCLA’s second consensus three-time All-American and first player in Pac-10 history to be be named a first team all-league selection four straight years.

Defensive back: Ronnie Lott

USC, 1977-80. An All-American in 1980, Lott and Dennis Smith were a devastating safety combination. It was once said of Lott, a blasting tackler, “He doesn’t care about his own body, why should he care about yours.” Defensive back: Mark Carrier

USC, 1987-1989. Carrier was awarded the Thorpe Award in 1989, presented to the nation’s best defensive back. A two-time first team All-American, he had seven interceptions in 1989.

Defensive back: Tim McDonald

USC, 1983-86. Former USC coach Ted Tollner once said of McDonald, a two-time All-American: “He has great range, is a hitter and can anticipate plays as well as anybody.”

Punter: Kirk Wilson

UCLA, 1956-57. Wilson holds Pac-10 records for highest punting average in a game, 58.0 yards against Kansas in ‘56, and career average, 44.6

SECOND TEAM

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End Marlin McKeever USC 1958-1960 End Fred McNeil UCLA 1971-73 Tackle Irv Eatman UCLA 1979-1982 Tackle Manu Tuiasosopo UCLA 1975-1978 Linebacker Donn Moomaw UCLA 1950-1952 Linebacker Junior Seau USC 1988-89 Linebacker Jamir Miller UCLA 1991-93 Defensive back Jim Sears USC 1950-52 Defensive back Dennis Smith USC 1977-80 Defensive back Carlton Gray UCLA 1989-92 Defensive back Dennis Thurman USC 1974-77 Punter Des Koch USC 1951-53

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Note: Some outstanding offensive players have not been recognized because they played in the era of the single wing and were triple threats--running passing and kicking--as tailbacks such as UCLA’s Kenny Washington and USC’s Ambrose Schndler Grenny Lansdell and Orv Mohler.